Personality Traits of a Tamaskan Dog You'd Want to Know About

Getting home a dog can change your life completely. If you want to get a dog that is compatible with your spacious lifestyle living, then the wolf-like Tamaskan dog is the one for you! Here's more about the Tamaskan dog breed so that the experience with your dog can be a rewarding one.

Wolf or not?!

The Tamaskan dogs have inherited the sled-pulling talent from their very close relatives, Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute, but they do not have any wolf ancestry. They are just bred to look like wolves, and are way bigger than their sled-dog ancestors.

The word "Tamaska" means the "mighty wolf" in the Native American language. The Tamaskan dog is a crossbreed of sled-dog type that first originated in Finland. It has a wolf-like appearance, but does not have any wolf content in it. This large and cheerful dog has good sled-pulling capabilities. No marks for guessing from where it inherited this skill from! Yes, its ancestors. There are around slightly more than 400 Tamaskan dogs registered worldwide. These are classified as the 'working' breed. They can be trained to assist humans in various tasks. Take a look below to know all about this dog.

Know Your Tamaskan Pal

Where did they come from?

The Tamaskan dog breed first originated in Finland. In the early 1980s, five dogs of Siberian Husky origin were imported from America to the UK. These dogs were then bred to Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky to create a wolf-like dog. The appearance would be like a wolf, and the temperament, traits, and intelligence like that of a working group and family dog. The first litter of Tamaskan puppies was produced in the year 2002, but the name Tamaskan did not exist then. It was only in 2006 that they were registered in the newly formed Tamaskan Dog Registry and named Tamaskan dogs. Since then, they have been bred and developed in many parts of the world.

The Tamaskan dog breed is cheerful and wolf-like in appearance mainly because it was bred to look like a wolf and behave like a dog.

It is a large, working canine that has an athletic look to it. It is larger than the Siberian Husky, but smaller than the Alaskan Malamute.

It has a thick coat and a bushy, straight tail. The fluffy tail resembles the tail of an Alaskan Malamute, but does not curl up.

It has muscular legs and small paws.

It has a wedge-shaped and slightly arched forehead.

The eyes are medium-sized and yellow, amber, or brown in color.

The ears are triangular with rounded tips. They are erect and face forward.

In winters, this breed grows a lush undercoat that covers its whole body as well as inner parts of the ears.

How do they like their dwelling?

They love digging holes everywhere. Therefore, they are suitable as pets if you have a big play area outside your house or if you live in a bungalow as they love to play and run around freely. They are not suitable for flats or apartments.

They prefer cooler climates, which is why they do well in Arctic regions. They are not suitable for hot climatic conditions.

Their Temperament

The Tamaskans are known to be agile, obedient, and intelligent.

They make excellent sled dogs like their Arctic cousins.

Their intelligence and intellect make them good rescue and search dogs because of their keen sense of smell, intelligence, and stamina.

They are also known to have a laid-back personality, and are very friendly and sociable. They are great with humans and make good pets.

If left alone for a long time, they tend to become bored and aggressive. They might also try to run away if alone, and need the company of their owners for most of the time to keep them mentally stimulated and active.

They can sometimes be very stubborn, but are highly trainable, and respond when instructed, thanks to their intelligence!

They do not make good watch dogs as they are extremely friendly especially with small children. These guys might even welcome the intruders with excitement and sloppy kisses!

Grooming and Activities They Love

These canines are very active and need a lot of exercise. They are playful dogs, and enjoy playing and running around everywhere. They love to be taken out for walks and jogs.

The owners can breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to occasional grooming. They do not need much grooming, but brushing their coat once in a week is recommended especially when the dog is shedding. It will help your dog keep looking its best.

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Their Common Health Problems

The Tamaskan breed is healthy overall with only a few health issues.

Epilepsy was detected in five dogs, after which the breeding on those bloodlines was discontinued.

Cryptorchidism is noted in about 10% of the males.

Since it is a large breed, hip dysplasia is a tendency in them. Selective breeding has been taken care of after looking into these conditions.

They usually don't have any genetic diseases.

The Tamaskans make wonderful family pets. It is advisable not to adopt this breed if it's your first time petting a dog. You should have some prior experience with the canine, as the Tamaskans have a demanding exercise schedule and a tough training regime. Now that you have learned about this breed, don't waste time! Just go and get this energetic and cheerful creature home, and see how it changes your life.